More than £50m has been allocated by the government for local councils to fix roads and fill in potholes in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin today announced that £6bn would be spent on tackling potholes and improving roads between next year and 2021.

The Department for Transport allocates funding to local authorities based on local need, with Norfolk County Council awarded just under £29m for next year and Suffolk County Council almost £22m.

Between 2015 and 2021, Norfolk County Council will get just under £149.5m, while Suffolk County Council will get £113.9m.

Mr McLoughlin said: 'Roads play a significant part in everyday life. Poorly maintained local roads, blighted by potholes, are a menace to all road users, particularly during the festive period as people travel to see family and friends.

'It is vital we have good quality roads. This government has already taken strong action by spending £1bn more on local roads maintenance than was spent in the previous parliament.

'The £6bn funding I am announcing today will put an end to short term fixes and will mean we have committed £10 billion between 2010 and 2021.

'This huge investment is part of our long term economic plan to ensure we have a transport network fit for the 21st century.'

The Local Government Association said the cash, which it said had been announced previously, did not go far enough.

A spokesman said: 'The LGA has long called for greater funding for roads maintenance so these allocations originally announced in the June 2013 Spending Review to improve the network are a positive step.

'However, there is still a very long way to go to bring the nation's roads up to scratch.

'Previous LGA analysis of the £6bn funding over five years found it equated to an extra £300m a year on top of the £700m councils were expecting, but was still £800m short of what was needed to repair the poor quality of roads in one year alone.

'So while helpful, this new money does not bridge the overall funding gap which is increasing year on year.'

• What do you think of the state of Norfolk and Suffolk's roads? Write, giving full contact details, to Letters Editor, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE.